Wave-motor.



D. B. ROCKWELL, J1. WAVE MOTOR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 24., 1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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DANA B. ROCKWELL, JR, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WAVE-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed August 24, 1908. Serial No. 449,942.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANA B, RooKwELL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in fave-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for utilizing the shoreward momentum of the water and also for utilizing the outflow or undertow of the waves; and the object thereof is to provide simple and efficient means in the same device for utilizing both forces. 1 accomplish this object by the mechanism described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wharf structure and one of my improved wave motors mounted thereon, and connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the motor wheel detached from the wharf structure. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the motor wheel.

In the drawings 5 is a wharf structure on the outer end of which is mounted the driven shaft 6. This driven shaft bears on one end thereof grooved pulley 7 on which is mounted cable 8 which runs to the driven machinery not shown. On the other end of the driven shaft is a sprocket wheel 9 which is connected by chain 10 with a sprocket wheel 11 which is mounted on the end of shaft 12 of the motor wheel. Near each end of shaft 12 is mounted spiders 13 which carry on their outer ends the channel rims 14. In these rims are mounted the side bars 15 which are provided on the back thereof and near their connection with the rims with stop lugs 16 which project over the rims and retain the side arms when fully extended radial to shaft 12..

Secured to the side arms are the propeller blades 17 the inner ends of which are curved as best shown in Fig. 8, thereby forming what may be termed scoo shaped buckets or blades. The outer en s of these blades preferably at the center thereof are connected by chains 18 which are of such length that when all of the blades are eX tended to their full capacity at the same time the chains would extend around and be taut. If desired, however, the chains could be connected to the arms instead of the blades. Shaft 12 is mounted in bearings carried upon frames, one of which 19 is shown partly broken away on Fig. 1. These frames are vertically adjustable by means of shafts 20 which pass in threaded contact through nuts 21 mounted on the wharf structure, wrenches not shown being used to adjust the screw shafts. This adjustment is provided to shift the position of the motor wheel to adjust it to the different positions as the tide ebbs and flows.

22 is a chain tightener to take u the slack of chain 10 when the motor whee is raised, the motor wheel being shown at its lowermost position.

111 the operation of my device the motor wheel will be submerged a sufficient distance in the water so that the propeller blades on the upper side of the wheel will be subjected to the maximum impulse of the wave as it proceeds toward the shore, which will rotate the motor wheel in the direction shown by the arrow and. the motion thereof will be imparted by sprocket chain 10 to the driven shaft. The rotation of the driven shaft by means of cable 8 and pulley 7 will operate the driven machinery not shown.

It will be observed that as the motor wheel is rotated the propeller blades fold inwardly toward the shaft on the lower side into inoperative position and as they come into operative position at the top of the Wheel each blade as it catches the impact of the water upon its face must pull the back of the other blade against a lesser force of water below so that the blades do not open so as to produce a sudden shock on their arms or upon the operating shaft. it will also be observed that when the undertow comes back with force the lowermost blades will be caught and brought to operative position and will rotate the operating shaft in the same direction that the incoming water operates on the upper side of the wheel. 1 have shown only one motor wheel, but it is obvious that as many motor wheels may be used as desired, and they may be all coupled to operate a single driven shaft or different shafts as desired.

Having described my invention what I claim is 1. In a wave motor a motor wheel adapted to be submerged said wheel comprising an operating shaft spiders secured near each end of said shaft; rims having an annular channel therein secured to said spiders; side bars pivotally mounted in the channels of said drums, said bars having lugs on the back thereof to prevent their opening beyond a radial position; propeller blades having the inner ends curved, secured to said arms; connecting means between said propeller blades, whereby the movement of one ucket is partially controlled by an adjacent bucket; and means to utilize the power proradial position, said means permitting said,

buckets to move in the other direction; and connecting means between said buckets whereby the movement of one bucket is partially controlled by an adjacent bucket.

3. A Wave motor comprising a submerged motor wheel having an operating shaft and scoop shaped buckets 0r blades pivotally and operatively connected to said shaft and having means to limit the movement of said buckets in one direction to a radial position, said means permitting said buckets to move in the other direction; and connecting means between said buckets whereby the movement on one bucket is partially controlled by an adjacent bucket; means to regulate the depth of submergence of said wheel; and means to utilize the power generated by the revolution of the operating shaft of the wheel.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day of August, 1908,

DANA B. ROCKWELL, JR. Vitnesses:

G. E. HARPHAM, S. B. AUSTIN. 

